Report: Carl Nicks “expected to leave” New Orleans in free agency

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 15, 2012, 11:44 AM EST

Reuters

Drew Brees is a free agent, but we know he’s not going anywhere this offseason.

So the Saints essentially have two options. They can strike a deal quickly with Brees or they can place the franchise tag on him to retain his rights while continuing to work on a long-term deal, like the Colts did with Peyton Manning last year.

Option No. 2 includes a hidden cost. The Saints won’t have the option to use their franchise tag elsewhere, and they have at least two other great candidates.

Nicks will be especially difficult to keep on a long-term deal because the Saints have already paid huge money for Jahri Evans and Nicks is viewed as one of the very best guards in football. Retaining Nicks on a one-year deal would be ideal, but it won’t be possible unless Brees’ contract is worked out quickly.

Nicks is “expected to leave” town, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This gives Brees greater leverage in negotiations, but it also puts him in a tricky spot. The Saints can’t handle their other important free agent business and build the best team around Brees until they get his contract done.

Let the purge begin …… It’s unfortunate that the Saints were unable to at least play in another SB before their window closed ……. With Brees pushing his mid-thirties & too many cap issues in the near future, it may be awhile before the Saints are thinking SB again …… In fact, hopefully Saints’ Fans have kept their brown paper bags …. They will once again need them ……

Brees, Nicks, and Colston aren’t the only UFA’s of concern for the Saints. WR’s Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson are also UFA’s. The team may opt to release Jonathan Vilma. Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams is likely to leave and join the Rams. And O-Line Coach Aaron Coster is interviewing for Head Coaching Jobs across the league. Not to mention the Saints WR Coach has taken the Tulane University Head Coach Job.

The Saints loss at San Francisco Saturday might be the end of an era in New Orleans with this current group of Saints

I would not franchise Colston. Brees can make any WR look good. I hope they try to sign him but there is no way I would give him top 5 WR money. I dont see how you let Nicks leave. Its extremely difficult to replace a talented Guard. When you have a Hall of Fame quarterback common sense tells you to continue to keep him protected. The offensive line was not why they lost that game. Brees had time to make big play after big play against an extremely talented defense

This offense works great when you give Brees time to throw the ball. You dont need to franchise Brees, you just need to give him top 3 QB money and stop screwing around. The fact that they couldnt get the guy signed during the season when he is clearly the key to this team is silly

All you brain surgeons that predict the Saints will get rid of all these free agents haven’t been paying attention to the way this front office has been working for the past several years. They’ll figure a way to keep the best players they can. Don’t blame the Saints because “your teams” front office doesn’t know what their doing!!!!

Saints need to get sum Defense. Keep everybody on offense and get rid of the whole defense. Make Vilma the defensive coordinator and fire Greg Williams. Who sends a 7 man blitz at the end of the game and you are winning. Even I know you at least play zone to stop the big play. That was a big piss off for Louisiana but we will be hosting and appearing in SB next year. Holla

Too bad for the Saints and their bi polar fan base Drew Brees can’t stay 32 forever, Carl Nicks is a beast and will be coveted by pretty much every team, the real question the Saints need to address is who dat? who dat? who dat thats gonna be our quarterback once brees is gone? (3 more years max)

tmtz2112 says:
Jan 15, 2012 4:02 PM
Too bad for the Saints and their bi polar fan base Drew Brees can’t stay 32 forever, Carl Nicks is a beast and will be coveted by pretty much every team, the real question the Saints need to address is who dat? who dat? who dat thats gonna be our quarterback once brees is gone? (3 more years max)
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playmaker21 says:
Jan 15, 2012 12:23 PM
Brees, Nicks, and Colston aren’t the only UFA’s of concern for the Saints. WR’s Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson are also UFA’s. The team may opt to release Jonathan Vilma. Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams is likely to leave and join the Rams. And O-Line Coach Aaron Coster is interviewing for Head Coaching Jobs across the league. Not to mention the Saints WR Coach has taken the Tulane University Head Coach Job.
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The Saints better make retaining Nicks their #1 priority this offseason (not counting the obvious of Brees). That offense will be dangerous as long as Brees is comfortable in the pocket, no matter who their wide receivers are.

Cincinnati needs a LG desperately. They have a young upcoming team with 2 #1 picks, a rookie Pro Bowl alternate QB and a Pro Bowl Rookie WR. And Cincy has more cap money than just about anyone.

Historically this wouldn’t be an option. But I think the stain of Brown is being lifted somewhat from the franchise. A forward thinking player like Nicks could get a maximum contract & the opportunity to play for a team on the rise.

There’s no way the Saints will let Drew Brees leave. He’s the face of the franchise and will get a contract done.

They should definitely work out a long-term deal for Carl Nicks too. And as much as I like Colston, he’s not a franchise-pay receiver. The Saints should offer him a nice upgrade, but if he leaves, Vincent Jackson of the Chargers is free to bounce and follow the trails of discarded Chargers to N.O. like Brees and Sproles.

We need to get younger at linebacker, especially where Shanle plays. He was constantly burned all season-long! If we can get tougher and faster at OLB via the draft and/or free agency, we’ll be right back.

Gregg Willilams did an amazing job for these past few years! Now if the Saints get Spagnoula in as his replacement, we’ll be just fine.

I say we sighn Brees and Nicks and let Colston leave. We have Andre Arrington to replae Colston. Then we take a shot at Kellen Moore in the 7th round if he is there to see if he can develop into the future QB. If we need a receiver to replace Meachem we can get somebody in the draft or free agency.